In search of smarter buildings

What: Energy saving technology for federal buildings.

Why: The General Services Administration is looking to cut its costs for running federal buildings, specifically utilizing green technologies. The Green Proving Ground program is asking for information from the private sector, academic institutions, industry stakeholders and non-profit organizations on technologies that can improve environmental and economic performance of federal buildings.

Among the tech on GSA's wish list are predictive HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems, virtual energy auditing and networked lighting. All three either harness the web, or use networking technology to provide automatic, more precise and informed control for building systems. For example, predictive HVAC uses cloud-based software to mix building data with local weather forecasts, energy prices, tariffs, and demand response signals to set up simulations that can determine the most efficient HVAC operating strategy for the next 24 hours. Based on the information it collects, the software communicates with the building automation system to automatically optimize air handler unit operations.

The RFI asks for information on technologies that could be viable options for testing as part of GPG’s 2015 program. The GPG program will match the suggested technologies with federally owned buildings as part of a pilot program, and GSA will use the pilot results and evaluations in its future investment decisions and adoption of technologies, according to the RFI.